5 Reasons Dementia Caregivers Should Consider Respite Care

By Kevin McClarren, 9:00 am on May 17, 2017

Your caregiving duties may become overwhelming as your loved one’s dementia progresses, and opting for respite care can be advantageous for you. Caregivers who arrange for respite care can enjoy the following benefits.

1. Tend to Other Responsibilities

Initially, you may be able to balance your caregiving duties with other responsibilities such as grocery shopping. However, providing care for a loved one may become difficult as dementia progresses. A respite caregiver can provide high-quality care to your senior loved one while you tend to other important tasks.

When considering in-home care, Bridgewater, NJ, families should make sure their senior loved ones have the resources they need to maintain their independence and remain healthy. Trusted in-home care professionals can assist seniors with daily tasks like cooking, bathing, and exercise, and they can also encourage them to focus on healthier lifestyle habits.

2. Successfully Manage Challenging Behaviors

You may not always be patient with your loved one, and managing challenging behaviors such as repetition and agitation can lead to stress buildup. As a caregiver, you must remember you are human, and taking a break can give you a sense of peace.

3. Reduce the Dangers of Fatigue

One of the many symptoms of dementia includes nighttime waking, which places your loved one at risk of wandering. Your loved one may also experience middle-of-the-night insomnia, and keeping an eye on him or her during the night can make you drowsy the next day. A respite caregiver can keep an eye on your loved one while you get some sleep during the night.

If you are the primary caregiver for a senior family member and you need respite care, Bridgewater, New Jersey, Home Care Assistance is here to help. Our respite caregivers are trained to assist older adults with a wide variety of everyday tasks, including meal prep, physical activity, and personal hygiene. We also provide 24-hour care and specialized care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s.

4. Learn New Caregiving Strategies

Most family caregivers have very little training in senior home care. Fortunately, you can learn about the best ways to manage your loved one’s needs from a professional respite caregiver. You can also use your respite time to learn more about dementia through a support group.

5. Receive Emotional Support

Watching your loved one experience memory loss and agitation can be painful, and you may feel there is no one who would understand your caregiving duties. A respite caregiver knows what you are going through, and he or she can offer you professional advice on dementia home care. This gives you the emotional support you need to provide better care for your aging loved one.

Dementia can be challenging for seniors to manage, but they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional dementia home care. Bridgewater seniors can benefit greatly from the Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), an activities-based program designed to slow cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. CTM is included at no additional charge with any of the in-home care plans provided by Home Care Assistance. To create a customized dementia care plan for your aging loved one, call one of our Care Managers at 908.450.9400 today.